So what do I put in the nest boxes?

[secuono]

Quote:
Holy cow. Hay is $15.75 a bale here!

I used to use shavings in the nest boxes, but mine were always kicking them out, too. I started using straw and it's working really well. It holds a nice "nest" shape and doesn't stick to the eggs.

Is your bale the small cubes or the huge 4ft round bales?
Our small ones are $4-7, large round ones $15-40.


I use fine shavings, grass hay, bought hay, pretty much anything shredded & fluffy will work for nests.

 

[wwalding]

put a piece of carpet on the bottom... then use shreded paper for the nest...i have been using this for a couple weeks now.. i ran out of hay.. so i decided to try something different...been working fine.. also you can bag your own grass when you cut it and dry it out... only draw back with the paper is sometimes it sticks to the egg. but comes off pretty easy... then you will not need to buy anything.. recycle.. go cheap...lol...

 

[caspernc]

the way my silly girls love to eat paper it might last an hour or so. They aren't laying quite yet so I'm still thinking about it. But I know paper is out.

 

[TenPast-Fugit]

Quote:
Thank you for this post..... My hen uses wood shavings happily. 2-days ago one of my pullets laid her first egg---and threw all the shavings out of the box. I see now that it is just a chicken preference....and she didn't like them. (I had thought that maybe she was psychotic or some such).

Has anyone used paper shredded in the shredders so many folks have now-a-days? Would it give paper cuts to chicken's feet. any thoughts? Thanks.

I use shredded paper (strip cut, not the short length cross cut paper) have done for years. I also used it with rabbits when I kept them too. It's dust free, easily available and virtually sterile.

Hope that helps.
TenPast-Fugit

 

[mydog8it]

Quote:
Holy cow. Hay is $15.75 a bale here!

I used to use shavings in the nest boxes, but mine were always kicking them out, too. I started using straw and it's working really well. It holds a nice "nest" shape and doesn't stick to the eggs.

Is your bale the small cubes or the huge 4ft round bales?
Our small ones are $4-7, large round ones $15-40.


I use fine shavings, grass hay, bought hay, pretty much anything shredded & fluffy will work for nests.

They're rectangular bales, maybe 2'x4' at the most - I'd say they're about 80-100lbs. Not sure if that qualifies as small or large?

 

[aggie9296]

shredded newspaper. long strips to cut down on them eating it. when dirty, goes into compost pile.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Quote:
Holy cow. Hay is $15.75 a bale here!

I used to use shavings in the nest boxes, but mine were always kicking them out, too. I started using straw and it's working really well. It holds a nice "nest" shape and doesn't stick to the eggs.

15.75 a bale YIKES I pay 4-6 bucks

 

[pontoosuc]

We use pine shavings, same as on the coop floor.

I put in some hay around the time that they were going to start laying and got nervous that
they would eat it and get crop bound. But many people use hay or straw.

 

[OkChickens]

Quote:
Holy cow. Hay is $15.75 a bale here!

I used to use shavings in the nest boxes, but mine were always kicking them out, too. I started using straw and it's working really well. It holds a nice "nest" shape and doesn't stick to the eggs.

15.75 a bale YIKES I pay 4-6 bucks

Holy Cow $15.75! I can get a bale here for $4-6 here in Oklahoma! Hay is soo cheap here I buy a huge 4 ft or so bale from a neighbor for $15. Or I trade him a couple dozen eggs. I use it for the floor in my 20x30 coop and the floor in my 10x18 coop and I still have like 7/8's of it left!

Nate

 

[secuono]

Quote:
Is your bale the small cubes or the huge 4ft round bales?
Our small ones are $4-7, large round ones $15-40.


I use fine shavings, grass hay, bought hay, pretty much anything shredded & fluffy will work for nests.

They're rectangular bales, maybe 2'x4' at the most - I'd say they're about 80-100lbs. Not sure if that qualifies as small or large?

Wow, I'd say medium! We don't have ones like that. Just the 40-60lbs and the huge 4 or 5ft round ones.

If you have a lawn, you can let it grow out, mow it and then dry it for your own homemade hay.